Method of detaching galvanically produced sheets from master sheets

ABSTRACT

This specification describes the mechanical separation of galvanically-formed metal sheets from a master by subjecting a composite, consisting of a master sheet and a formed sheet on each side of said master, to the action of multiple rolls disposed in non-aligned relation on both sides of said composite so as to cause said composite to bend in at least one direction without any substantial decrease in the cross-section thereof. This controlled bending causes the formed sheets to readily separate from the master sheet without manual mechanical manipulation. It is stated that slight elastic deformation of the master upon bending is sometimes desirable.

United States Patent Kapellet al.

151 3,693,236 [451 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] METHOD OF DETACHING GALVANICALLY PRODUCED SHEETS FROM MASTER SHEETS [72] inventors: Gerhard Kapell, Warlimontweg 22; Anton Schummer, Packersweide 40, both of Hamburg 28, Germany [51] Int. Cl. .B23p 17/00 [58] Field of Search .....29/427, 423; 204/12, 13, 281

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wood ..204/12 UX 1,580,198 4/1926 Harrison ..204/13 2,583,100 1/1952 Wilson ..204/12 UX 2,880,147 3/1959 Cunningham ..204/12 X 3,046,203 7/1962 Cadwell ..204/12 Primary Examiner- Charlie T. Moon Attorney-Burgess, Dinklage & Sprung 5 7] ABSTRACT This specification describes the mechanical separation of galvanically-formed metal sheets from a master by subjecting a composite, consisting of a master sheet and a formed sheet on each side of said master, to the action of multiple rolls disposed in non-aligned relation on both sides of said composite so as to cause said composite to bend in at least one direction without any substantial decrease in the cross-sectionthereof. This controlled bending causes the formed sheets to readily separate from the master sheet without manual mechanical manipulation. It is stated that slight elastic deformation of the master upon bending is sometimes desirable.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPZG 12 3.693; 236

In venlorsj GERHARD KAPELL ANTON SCHUMMER ATTORNEYS.

METHOD OF DETACHING GALVANICALLY PRODUCED SHEETS FROM MASTER SHEETS This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 635,547, filed May 2, 1967 and now abandoned.

It is known to produce metal, or other conductive sheets, by electroplating such onto amaster. It is the common practice to electroplate onto both sides of the master and thus to simultaneously produce two formed sheets from a single master. This process is particularly prevalent in the non-ferrous metal, notably copper, industry.

I-Ieretofore, it has been the industrial standard practice to remove these formed sheets from the master by hand. It is apparent that it would be desirable to accomplish the detachment of these formed sheets from the master by mechanical means.

In accord with this desire, the art has made many attempts to design mechanical apparatus and processes for the separation of formed sheets from a master. Thus, German Pat. No. 620,209 shows the utilization of suction to accomplish this purpose. This process has not met with particular success because it utilizes very complicated equipment and, even so, tends to leave large portions of the formed sheets on the master.

British Pat. No. 455,360 shows a process whereby a master having formed sheets on each side is passed between rollers rotating at different speeds. According to this process, one of the formed sheets is thereby removed; and if the remaining composite is subjected to a second similar operation, the other formed sheet is removed.

Neither the suction nor differential speed roll technique has been adopted to any appreciable extent by the electrolytic deposition industry, but rather, the formed sheets are still removed from the master principally by manual operation.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel means of separating both formed sheets from a master. It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel means of simultaneously separating two formed sheets from a master.

Other and additional objects will become apparent from a consideration of this entire specification, including the drawing and claims hereof.

' In accord with and fulfilling these objects, one aspect of this invention resides in a process comprising passing a composite, comprising a master having plated sheets on both sides thereof, through a multiplicity of rolls disposed on both sides thereof such as to cause said sheet to bend in at least one direction, preferably without a reduction in the cross-section thereof whereby both plated sheets are separated from the master in one operation. In the case of bending rolls of this type, the pressure rolls which are located on the one side of the plane of movement of the sheet to be treated are staggered with respect to the drive rolls which are located on the opposite side of the plane of movement of the sheet and are arranged adjustable at distances apart from each other and from the opposing rollers so that deformation takes place just below the elastic limit and without any reduction in cross-section. It is particularly advantageous in this connection that the rolls are so adjusted with respect to each other that the bending takes place within the elastic region of the master sheet so that the latter is not permanently deformed, but springs back into its original shape immediately after passage through the rolls. To be sure, even in case of permanent deformation of the master sheet, the starting sheets detach themselves from it, but the master sheet must then be rolled flat for reuse, which would require a further operation.

According to another aspect of this invention, multiple sets of rolls are disposed on each side of the composite, thus causing the composite to assume a multiple bend configuration as it passes through the rolls. It is preferable in this embodiment to provide for the multiple bending to take place at just below or above the elastic limit of the master.

Understanding of this invention will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation partially in section of one apparatus adapted to practice this invention; and

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to this drawing and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a composite sheet 1 passes along a table 3 and through bending rolls 2 and 2a. The rolls 2a are driven so as to propel the composite 1 from left to right. The roll 2 need not be driven, but is so disposed as to exert pressure on the composite l and cause such to deform; depicted deformation is in an upwardly direction, but may be reversed if desired. It should be noted that the rolls 2 and 2a are staggered in order to impart bending. A table 4 can be provided positioned after the composite has passed through the bending rolls.

After the composite 1 has been bent according to this invention, it separates into a master 5, which is suitable for reuse, and the two plated sheets 6, which are stripped from the master and may be rolled or in other ways utilized in the conventional manner.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is seen an embodiment of this invention wherein multiple bends are imparted to the composite l-which, in this figure, is proceeding from right to left-by passing the composite off a table 3 through staggered upper pressure rolls 2 and lower driven rolls 7, whereupon the composite l separates into a reusable master 5 and two plated sheets 6 on the table 4. It may be that the roll can be used as a finishing roll to straighten out the master sheet after such has been bent and deformed by such bending.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the tables 3 and 4 referred to above may have conveyor belts thereon or may be replaced by conveyor belts as may be desired. Other types of feed and take-up devices may be similarly used.

The advantage of this manner of operation is, in particular, that the detachment of the two starting sheets or galvanically produced sheets is effected in a single operation. The apparatus required is furthermore very simple and permits continuous operation to the exclusion of all manual work.

While there is the advantage, when bending in the elastic range of the master sheet bearing the starting sheets, that a straightening of the starting sheets and of the master sheet is no longer required, and thus one operation is saved, it has been found, when carrying out the method in accordance with the invention in continuous permanent operation, that in this case the starting sheets still, at times, do not detach themselves completely from the master sheets. This naturally is disturbing for continuous operation even though it only occurs rarely. It has now been found that the starting sheets detach themselves with much greater certainty from the master sheet if the bending of the sheet is continued to such an extent that a permanent bend is present. In continuous operation, it is substantially more favorable to operate in this manner, despite the additional step of straightening, than to have to tolerate an interruption in operation. In order to protect the master sheet which, after all, is to be reused as frequently as possible, one operates in this connection with the smallest possible amount of bend, although the sheets produced will detach themselves more dependably the greater the degree of bend.

It has been furthermore found that upon the deformation of the master sheet bearing the starting sheets, in case of permanent deformation of the sheet with the smallest possible degree of bend, the detachment of the starting sheets can be effected with even far greater reliability if the sheets are bent at least twice after each of the sheets produced, which result can be obtained by using a bending machine having four rolls. In this embodiment of the method, one can, with absolute relia' bility, count on both starting sheets being detached from their master sheet without the necessity of any manual assistance and without the life of the master sheet being substantially reduced by excessive bending.

It will further be appreciated that the apparatus and process hereof can be utilized to separate a composite comprising a master and a plated sheet, only on one side thereof. As a rule, there will be attached a thin layer of oil, fat or similar material on each side of the master before electroplating in order to prevent the depositing metal sheets from too intimate a contact with the master. This is known by all skilled in the art and not part of the invention. Therefore it is not mentioned in the figures and claims of this invention. However, it always should be kept in mind, that those layers of oil or similar material are to be used.

What we claim is:

1. Method of detaching an electrolytically deposited sheet from a master sheet which comprises passing a composite sheet of said master and said deposited sheets between a series of at least three staggered rollers disposed on both sides of said composite sheet wherein the rollers on one side of said composite sheet are driven and the rollers on the other side of said sheet are pressure exerting rollers to plastically deform said master sheet without a reduction in cross section by passage of said composite between said rollers whereby subjecting said composite sheet to at least two alternating bends and separating said master sheet from said electrolytically deposited sheet after passage of said composite sheet through said rollers.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, including straightening said master sheet after separating such from said electrolytically deposited sheet.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite sheet has electrolytically deposited sheet on both sides of said master sheet.

a: a: a: 

1. Method of detaching an electrolytically deposited sheet from a master sheet which comprises passing a composite sheet of said master and said deposited sheets between a series of at least three staggered rollers disposed on both sides of said composite sheet wherein the rollers on one side of said composite sheet are driven and the rollers on the other side of said sheet are pressure exerting rollers to plastically deform said master sheet without a reduction in cross section by passage of said composite between said rollers whereby subjecting said composite sheet to at least two alternating bends and separating said master sheet from said electrolytically deposited sheet after passage of said composite sheet through said rollers.
 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, including straightening said master sheet after separating such from said electrolytically deposited sheet.
 3. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite sheet has electrolytically deposited sheet on both sides of said master sheet. 